2AİBÜ, Düzce Tıp Fakültesi, Nöroşirürji Anabilim Dalı, Düzce, İstanbul Objective: Ventriculo-peritoneal (VP) shunting has been the most widely accepted form of the treatment of hydrocephalus related to various etiologies. Despite its long and widespread use, there are still problems with this method. Therefore, we present our retrospective experience on 460 patients who were treated with VP shunting.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated 460 patients who had been treated at our clinic with VP shunting with the diagnosis of hydrocephalus between January 1988 and December 1998 for parameters such as gender, age, etiology, type of valve used, infection rate and shunt failure.
Results: Tumors and subarachnoid hemorrhage were the most common etiological factors in adults in contrast to bacterial meningitis in children. Dysfunction of ventricular catheter was the most common cause of shunt failure in both adults and children. Shunt revision was more frequently performed in children than adults. Infection rate was similar to other elective surgical procedures.
Conclusion: This study shows that despite extensive experience with and improvement in the technical features of the VP shunts, treatment of hydrocephalus with various underlying etiology with VP shunting stil presents a challenge.
Anahtar Kelimeler : Hydrocephalus, treatment, ventriculoperitoneal shunting